Remember the phrase “compassionate conservatism?” If you can’t remember, that’s OK, because that oxymoron has died several deaths already, in the sands of Iraq, the floodwaters of Katrina, and the classrooms of schools Left Behind. And there’s one more death on the way: our compassionate conservative President is threatening to veto S-CHIP, the proven and popular State Children’s Health Insurance Program that has won wide and deep bi-partisan support in both the House and Senate.

“To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics
And endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty,
To find the best in others,
To leave the world a bit better;
whether by a healthy child,
A garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
To know that one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.”

Its profoundly tragic that these 10 million children won’t get to live a life of success and won’t get their own taste of the American dream because of a cold and apathetic health policy. What exactly is compassion, if it isn’t protecting and nurturing these 10 million innocent lives? They are certainly the “collateral damage” of this administration’s radically bankrupt policy of compassionate conservatism.

thanks to Sipula for the photo at the top and the poem from Emerson. to Su-chan for the flickr photo below.